Phonics at Chartham
Intent
At Chartham Primary School we teach phonics through a validated, systematic and synthetic phonics programme so that all our children become fluent readers and writers. We are determined that every pupil will learn to read, regardless of their background, needs or abilities.
We use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to plan and provide daily phonics lessons. The children are taught that the letters of the alphabet represent different sounds, that these can be used in a variety of combinations and are put together to make words. The children learn to recognise all of the different sounds and combinations that they might see when they are reading or writing. Our phonics teaching follows a very specific sequence that allows our children to build on their previous phonic knowledge and master specific strategies as they move through school. As a result, the children are able to tackle any unfamiliar words that they might discover. At Chartham School we also model these strategies in shared reading and writing both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum. We have a strong focus on the development of language skills for our children because we know that speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects.
Because we believe teaching every child to read is so important, we have a Reading Leader who drives the early reading programme in our school. This person is highly skilled at teaching phonics and reading, and they monitor and support our reading team, so everyone teaches with fidelity to the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme.
Implementation
How we teach phonics
Impact
How do we assess phonic knowledge in Reception and Year 1?
If you would like more information about how to support your child with phonics at home, please follow this link to find the Reception and Year 1 overview as well as videos of the sound pronunciations, letter formation sheets and other helpful resources.
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-eTO8L3t40
Some more useful websites for practising phonics with your child:
A member of Inspira Academy Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales, with company number 13188733.